Automatic remotely controlled fire extinguisher



Aug. 22, 1950 c. N. cAHusAc AUTOMATIC REMOTELY CONTROLLED FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed June 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6' N05! d'flflwnc,

. ATTORNEY c. N. cAHusAc Aug. 22, 1950 AUTOMATIC REMOTELY CONTROLLED FIRE .EXTINGUISHER Filed June 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HQ wm mm mm wm a o 3 an mu V INVENTOR. C 0L [m/ 1/5/26,

Arron/v5) Aug. 22, 1950 c. N. cAHusAc AUTOMATIC REMOTELY CONTROLLED FIRE EXTINGUISHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 5, 1947 INVENTOR.

C, r P. ,E w M H m Q .4 NW

Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC REMOTELY CONTROLLED FIRE EXTINGUISHER corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,759

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to fire extinguishers and more particularly to discharge mechanism for containers, cylinders or tanks holding fluid under pressure, such for example as carbon dioxide.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means comprising a heat actuated device or temperature responsive device and a valve controlled thereby for automatically releasing the fluid from the container upon a certain increase in temperature in the vicinity of said heat actuated device.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this character which shall include novel and improved means whereby said valve can be automatically operated at the space to be protected or at a point remote therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a novel and improved fire detecting unit which shall be quickly and positively responsive to temperature rises and which can be easily and quickly applied to a fire extinguisher.

A further object is to provide in a fire extinguisher having a valve operating mechanism of the squeeze-grip type, a novel and improved heatactuated means for automatically controlling actuation of said valve operating mechanism to open the valve and release the fire extinguishing fluid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the descriptionthereof to follow in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a fire extinguisher embodying one form of my invention, the valve being shown in normal closed position and parts being shown in section.

Figure 2.is a similar view but showing the valve in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Figure l is a side view of a fire extinguisher embodying modified form of the invention, the valve being shown in normal closed position and parts being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fire extinguisher embodying still another modified form of the invention, the valve being shown in normal closed position and parts being shown in section.

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figure 5 but each showing a further modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged front view of the thermostatic element used with the improved fire extinguishers.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 99 of Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, a cylinder l for liquefied carbon dioxide or other highly compressed fluid is shown supported on a side wall 2 by straps 3. An outlet fitting 4 is threaded into the neck of the cylinder in the usual manner.

The fitting has a central Vertical delivery passage 5 communicating with a port 6 which extends laterally therefrom and through an internally screw threaded extension 1 on the fitting to the exterior thereof. An elbow sleeve 8 has one end threaded into the extension 1 and its other end connected to a delivery pipe 9. This pipe leads to and is supported on a partition wall I!) by brackets I I and then passes through an opening l2 in the wall to the other side of said wall to the space to be protected Where its free end terminates in a nozzle portion [3. The port 6 serves as a-discharge port as well as a port for filling the cylinder.

At its upper end the vertical delivery passage 5 is enlarged to form a seat for a safety disk 14 held in place by a ported baffle or anti-recoil screw plug I5 threaded into said enlarged portion. The safety disk is arranged to rupture at a predetermined pressure so as to prevent the building up of excessive pressure in the cylinder. The anti-recoil member distributes the fluid in equal amounts in opposite directions to prevent recoil upon discharge of fluid upon accidental puncturing of the disk I4.

The fitting is formed with a lateral extension it having a port ll communicating at its inner end with the vertical delivery passage 5, the outer end of said port being enlarged. On its opposite side, the fitting is formed with an enlarged extension l8 and with a chamber l9 communicating at its inner end with the delivery passage 5 and at its outer end with an internally screw threaded recess or chamber 20 formed in the extension IS. The chamber 2!! is greater in diameter than the chamber [9 thereby forming a shoulder between them.

Slidably mounted in the, chamber I9 is a check valve 2| having a cup-shaped portion 22 at one end with a gasket 23 therein and having a reduced portion at its other end forming a shoulder 24. The valve 2| is actuated by a stem or rod 25 having one end fastened thereto. The stem extends through the port I! in the extension [6 and projects slightly beyond the outer end of said extension as seen in Figure 1. A sealing gasket 26 is located in the outer enlarged end of port 11 and held by a nut 21 screwed into said port to prevent the escape of gas around the stem and the walls of the enlarged portion during discharging and recharging of the cylinder, the nut also constituting a close fittin guide for the stem.

An externally screw threaded plug member or nut 28 is threaded into the threaded recess 20 of the extension I8. 7 The nut ;is formed with a central elongated recess 29 which terminates at the inner end of the nut in an enlarged cham ber 3|] forming a shoulder 3| on the nut. A stem or rod 32 has one end fastened to the reduced portion 24 of the valve 2| and extends through the chamber 30 into the elongatedrecess 29, said recess serving as a guide for the stem 32,

The gas from the cylinder which passes through the delivery passage 5 builds up a pressure in the chamber behind the valve-thereby forcing the valve into its forward home position, thatis, toward the right as viewed in Figure 2 against its, seat ,33 formed one the inner wall of port H. The valve blocks the passage .of gas from the delivery passage 5 to. and through. the. delivery port .6, Aspring 34 surrounds the reduced portion of the. valve and thestem Stand has one end s eated. againstthe,shoulder 24 on the valve and its other end seated.againstthe shoulder 3l o n the,nut,28. The spring urgesthe valve against its seat 33 when no gas pressureis present. y i g lflhe apparatus for actuating the piston valve automatically comprises a lever 35 provided with atregess -36 atone end. The .lever is pivotally connected to the fitting 4 by means of a pivot pin 5 1 mounted in a perforated enlargement 38 formedat the top of the outerendof the extension l6 and extending through the side walls ggpftherecessiifi. The lever is formed with an internal libOI' DlDtllbElfiIliCfl 4|1,normally out of gngageme ntwiththe outer projecting end of the a valve stem25. A plate 4| is positioned along the upper surface. of. thelever and is fastened thereto bygneans of bolts. The plate extends beyond thje outer free endof the lever forming anfextension fl of the lever which is provided with anopening 44. At the inner end of the lever the plate extends upwardly as at 45.and is provided with a slot 46 at its outer edge. "(A pair of,verticall yl disposed straps 4'|. encircle the extension H! .of the fitting 4 attheir lower ends and at their upper ends support one end of a tubular guide member. 48 I'1'he straps arev held l n po sition by bo lts,.4 9.. Another horizontally disposed strap 50 haso ne endiastened to the pair 9f trap s about midwaytheir height and is twisted atits qther end to form an upward extension 5| QK Fl. w th an n 2 r su p t n th ubu ar' u de m er. An. eyelet 5. n ted in" the opening 52 through which the tubular guidel'member extends V V V A e tting 4 is .lforrned adjacent its lower end with a late r al extension 54. andsecured to said extension by means of a rivet 55 is an elongated handle member 56. A rod 5l having an enlargement 58 atwone endanda screw threaded portion at .itspther end passes loosely through an opening in the handle .member56 and through the opening 44 inthelextension 43 of the-lever 3a protruding above ,the lever. A compression spring ,GOsurrounds said protruding portion and is' interposed between the lever and a wing nut 61 on thflrOlltBl' threaded end-oftherod. The spring 60 exercises a greater force than spring 34-.and .exerts a downward pressure against-the extension 43 so:that the lever 35 is normally urged 4 downwardly. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by the wing nut.

When the lever is forced downardly by the spring 60 its rib portion engages the protruding end of the valve stem 25 and moves said stem inwardly thereby forcing the valve 2| off of its seat 34. Fluid then escapes through the delivery passage 5, the port 6 and into the delivery pipe 9 and through the nozzle l3 where it is sprayed on the fire as indicated at 62.

The apparatus for controlling the movement of the lever 35 and for normally holding said lever against movement consists of the tubular guide member 48 which extends toward the wall Ill and-through an opening 63 therein to its other side where-it is curved slightly and then extends downwardly along the opposite side of said wall and is supported at its lower end by a horizontally disposed bracket 54 secured to the upper end of a strap 65which is fastened to the wall byflbolts fifi jlhetubular member maybe provided with a sleeve or bushing 61 where it passes through the straps, 41 and bracket 64. Slidably mountedin the tubular guide member 48 is a wire 58 which is slightly longer than the guide member. The wire passes outwardly h ashin e .o P i? ,hq i n a po o of h id embe a d i d ex ds t ou h h slgtgtinthe extension of the strap 4| on the ever. Anenlargement or head 69 larger than the sl ot is forrnedon this end of the wire to prevent the wire from being pulled through the lot- Th tbe uen r Q1. ih l r i s pr vided wi asi g lan head 5.9- flhaup ar ,extension .5 t ih ir fil n.ih er .is no ma l Pul ed t the lett as seen in lfigure 1 so that the lever is releasably held in upward inoperative position. Th s i da g brmeansp a th rm t me were ielsmwbsr 0 hav ee l pe ov r ou a d ie ten in hor i posed portion on the lower end of the fixed strap 65 by means of an opening '|i .in said end and having its. other en d, slipped over one end at alr t d. shangil nk m be 3. through a. sirnilar opening 1 2 at said end. The other end of thelinh ne mber is connected to the lower end the wire 58 through an opening or slot 14 V and 9f the linl; member adapted to receive the lower headed end of said wire. M

The th ermostatic element comprises a pair. of m l me lar Pl te. members 15 arr n e side by side in contacting relation, with each plate projecting beyond the other and each being provided with the opening 12 in its projecting end portion; The oontactinglsurfaces or portions of t la es arg'cqnnecredtogecher.py fusible metal or material as indicated at 16. i U V g h In this for m of the inventiomthe container is'pbsitioned in a room or compartment separate and remote from the space to be protected and th'e 'therniostatic element is placed in the latter space? When thete'mperature in the protected space reaches a predetermined degree due to a fire or'the like, the fusible material holding the plate members 15 together will melt whereby said plate members will separate and fall apart. When this happens, the resistance against the compression spring will cease and the pressure of the spring will force the lever 35 downwardly against the valve stem 25 thereby forcing the piston valve 2| off of its seat 34 permitting the fluid in the container to escape through the port 5, the'delivery pipe 9 and nozzle I3 where it is sprayed on tothe fire.

In Figure 4 is illustrated another form of the invention wherein the container is positioned remote from the space to be protected, as in the form of Figure 1. In this form the pivoted lever H has an opening 19 adjacent its outer free end through which the rod 51 passes but here the rod protrudes below the handle member 56 and the compression spring 60 is interposed between the said handle member and the wing nut 6|. In this arrangement, the spring exerts a downward pressure on the wing nut thereby exerting a downward pulling action against the lever 11.

The downward pull of spring 60 is resisted by apparatus similar to that shown in the form of Figure 1 but here the headed end of the wire 68 is held by an integral upstanding post 19 formed integrally on the inne end of the lever 11 and having an opening 89 in its upper end through which the wire passes. A similar upstanding post 8| is formed integrally on the extension i8 of the fitting 4- and is provided with an upper slotted end 82 in line with the opening 89 of post 19 for receiving and supporting the end of the horizontal portion of the tubular guide member 48. The lower end of the thermostatic element is connected to the lower protruding end H of the fixed strap 65 by a hook member 83 whose shank 84 passes through an opening 85 in said protruding end H and extends therebelow. The extending portion of the shank is threaded to receive a wing nut 86 for securing the hook to the end H and for taking up the slack in the wire.

When the thermostatic element 10 becomes ruptured and falls apart due to a fire or the like, the resistance to spring 69 ceases and it pulls the lever 1'! downwardly thereby moving the valve stem forcing the valve 2| off of its seat whereby the fluid is forced through the delivery pipe 9 and nozzle [3 to the fire.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the entire unit is adapted to be suit ably supported in the space to be protected. The apparatus for opening the valve 2| is similar to that of the form of Figure 4 and the fluid is forced directly out through a pipe 9 having a nozzle (not shown) on its end for discharging extinguishing fiuid on a fire. The pipe 9 communicates with the chamber 20 in the fitting and communication between the chamber and the central delivery passage 5 is closed by the valve 2 I.

In this form, the lever H is held against valve opening movement by means of the thermostatic element 1'9 which has one end slipped over the upper reduced portion of the upstanding post 19 on the lever 11 and its other end slipped over the reduced portion of a similar upstanding post 99 formed integrally on the extension [8 of the fitting 4 thereby interlocking the movable lever 1'! and the fitting. There is a constant pulling action exerted by the spring 60 on the thermo static element which facilitates its rupture. As in the form of Figure 4, when the thermostatic element becomes ruptured through rise of temperature, the resistance against the lever T! will cease and the spring 99 will pull the lever downwardly to open the valve but here the fluid will be forced out through the outlet nut 33 for spraying on the fire.

Figure 6 also illustrates another modified form of unit intended to be positioned in the space to be protected. As here shown, the rod 51 extends above the lever H with the spring 69 therearound exerting a downward pressure thereon as in the form of Figure 1. When the valve is moved off its seat by the lever, the fluid is dis- 6 charged through the pipe 9 as previously described.

The apparatus for holding the lever against valve opening movement comprises a strap member 92 secured to the lever 7'1 and forming an extension thereof. Another strap member 93 is secured to the fixed handle member 5t and forms an extension of said handle. The latter strap has a portion 94 extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the extending portion of strap 92 on the lever 71. Portion 9 3 terminates in an inwardly extending portion 95 which is positioned a distance above and which overlaps the outer end of the extending portion 92 on the lever. The thermostatic element IE3 is interposed between the overlapping portions with its upper end slipped over the portion 95 of strap 93 and its lower end slipped over the extending end portion of strap 92, thereby interlockin the lever 77 to the fixed handle 55. By this arrangement of parts, the downward thrust of the spring on the lever 11 is imparted to the thermostatic element 19 through which it is transmitted in the form of a pulling action on the end of the strap 93 on the fixed handle, thus facilitating the rupture of the thermostatic element. Upon such rupture, the apparatus operates the same as in the form of Figure 5.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figure '7 is somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 6 but the spring 55 is arranged below the fixed handle 5 5 as in the forms of Figures 4 and 5 to exert a downwardly pulling action on the lever 11. Here the thermostatic element is interposed between the fixed handle and the movable lever, the lower end of the element being slipped over a strap 96 secured to the lower surface of the handle member and forming an extension hereof and the upper end of said element being slipped over the overlapping protruding end of the strap 92011 the lever. The lever and handle are thus interlocked by the thermostatic element. In this arrangement of spring and element, there is a downward thrust as well as an upward force exerted on th thermostatic element for facilitating its rupture. Upon such rupture of the thermostatic element by high temperature or the like, the operation of the unit is the same as the forms shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to and parts of the invention may be used. without other parts without departing from the principle or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. For use with a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet fitting adapted to be secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, a chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with said delivery passage, an outlet passage formed in the fitting and communicating with said chamber, a valve movable in the chamber and normally closing communication between the delivery passage and said chamber, means for holding the valve in normal chamber closing position, a spring actuated lever pivo-tally mounted on said fitting and adapted to engage a portion of said valve for moving the valve to chamber opening position, an upstanding post fixed on said lever, an upstanding post fixed on said fitting and a thermostatic element having one end connected to the post on said lever and its other end connected to the post on said fitting for normally holding said lever against opening movement and for permitting said -movement upon rise of temperature to a predetermined degree.

2. For use with a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet fitting adapted to be secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, a chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with said delivery passage, an outlet passage formed in the fitting and com municating with said chamber, a valve movable in the chamber and normally closing communication between the delivery passage andsaid chamber, means for holding the valve in normal chamber closing position, a spring actuated lever pivotally mounted on said fitting and-adapted to engage a fixed portion of said valve for moving the valve to chamber opening position, a handle member formed integrally with saidfitting and forming an extension thereof and a-thermostatic element interposed between the lever and said handle member for normally holding said lever against opening movementand for permittingsaid movement upon rise of temperature to --a predetermined degree.--

43. For use with a container adapted to hold fluid under ressure, an outlet fitting adapted to be secured thereto and having a-central delivery passage, a chamberformed in the fitting and communicating with said delivery passage, an outlet passage formedin the fitting and communicating with said chamber, a valve movable in the chamber and normally closing communi-- cation between the delivery passage and said chambenmeans for holding the valve in normal chamber closing position, a spring actuated level nivctally mounted on said fitting and adapted-to engage a fixed portion of said valve formoving the valve to chamber opening position, a handle member formedintegrally with said fitting and forming an extension thereof, a strap secured to said lever and forming an extension thereof, a strap secured to said handle member and formingLan eXtension thereof, said strap extensions being disposed in overlapping relation and a thermostatic element interposed between said lever and said handle member and having one end connected to the extension of the lever anditsother end connected to the extension of the handle member for normally holding the lever against opening movement and for permitting said movement upon rise of temperature to a predetermined degree. 7 e

'4. For use with a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet fitting adapted to be secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, a chamber formed in the'fitting and communicating with-said delivery passage, an outlet passage formed in the fitting and communicating with said chamber, a piston type valve movablenin the chamber and normally closing communication between the delivery passage and said chamber, means for holding the piston in normal chamber closing position, a spring pressed lever pivotally mounted on saidfitting and adapted to engage a fixed portion of said piston for moving the piston to chamber openingposition, a handle member formedintegrally with saidfitting and forming an extension thereof, a strapsecured to said lever and forming an extension thereof, a strap secured to said handle member, said strap extending. beyond the free end of said handle member and forming an extension thereof, said strap having a portion extending upwardly to a point above the extension on said lever and having an inwardly extending portion overlapping an extension on said'lever and a thermostatic element having one end connected to the extension on the lever and its other end connected to the overlapping inwardly extending portion of the strap on the handle member for normally holding the lever against opening'movement and for permitting said movement upon rise of temperature to a predetermined degree.

5. For use with a container adapted to hold fi uidunder pressure, an outlet fitting adapted to be secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, a delivery port communicating with said passage, a chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with said passage, a valve movable in said-chamber and normally closing communication between the passage and the delivery port, means for holding the valve in normal portclosing position, means for actuating said valve into port-opening position, and mechanism for holding the last-named means against portopening movement, including a flexible member having one end connected to said last-named means, and a heat-responsive device connected to a fixed support and to said flexible member so that said valve-will be actuated into port-opening position when said heat-responsive device is subjected to a predetermined degree of heat.

6. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combination carrying handle and valve actuated b moving a control member with respect to the carrying handle comprising a, spring, means operatively connecting the spring between the carrying handle and the control member so that the spring normally tends to urge the control member in the discharge position, and thermoresponsive means releasably restraining the movement of the control member under the action of the spring.

7. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combinationcarrying handle and valve actuated by moving a control member with respect to the carrying handle comprising a coiled spring, a rod extending through the coil of the spring and operatively connected between the carrying handle and the control member so that the spring normally tends to urge the control member in the discharge position, and thermoa responsive means releasably restraining the movement of the control member under the action of the spring.

8. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher, having a combination carrying handle and valve actuated by moving acontrol member with respect to the carrying handle, the carrying handle having an aperture therein, comprising a coiled spring, a rod extending through the aperture in the carrying handle, the rod having an enlarged head so as to prevent it from being withdrawn from the aperture, the rod operatively connected with the control member so that the spring normally tends to urge the control member in the discharge position, and thermoresponsive means releasably restraining the movement of the control member under the action of the spring.

9. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combination carrying handle and valve actuated by moving a control member with respect to the carrying handle comprising, a coiled spring, a, rod extending through the coil of the spring and operatively connected between the carrying handle and the control member so that the spring normally tends to urge the control member into the discharge position, a flexible cable, and thermoresponsive means operatively connected by the flexible cable to oppose the normal action of the spring.

10. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combination carrying handle and valve actuated by moving a control member with respect to the carrying handle comprising, an extension attached to the control member and having openings at each end, a rod extending through the opening at one end and attached to the carrying handle at its other end, a, coil spring positioned about the rod and normall tending to urge the control member into th discharge position, a flexible cable having one end extending through the opening at the other end of the extension, and thermoresponsive means connected to the other end of the flexible cable to releasably restrain the discharge of the extinguisher under the action of the spring.

11. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combination carrying handle and valve L3 actuated by moving a control member with respect to the carrying handle comprising a rod adapted to extend through the contro1 member and the carrying handle, a coiled spring positioned about the rod and normally tending to mounted control member to actuate the valve, 9. rod extending between the supporting handle and the control member, a coiled spring positioned about the rod, the control member having an operating surface on one sid of its pivotal mounting and an extension on its other side, and thermoresponsive device operatively connected between the extension of the control member and the valve body to releasably restrain movement of the control member under the action of the spring.

13. A discharge device for a fire extinguisher having a combination carrying handle and valve, a control member, the valve actuated by moving the control member with respect to the carrying handle, a rod extending between the control member and the carrying handle, a spring positioned about the rod to tend to urge the con trol member into the discharge position, and thermoresponsive means directly connected between the control member and the carrying handle to releasably restrain the relative movement of these members under the action of the spring.

CLARENCE NOEL CAHUSAC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,650 Mapes Sept. 16, 1930 2,067,829 Denne Jan. 12, 1937 

